Where There’s A Home, There’s A House – Using Your House In Retirement

A house is far more than simply a home. It’s also an enormously valuable asset, which can help you meet the costs of retirement.

In truth, most of us aren’t saving enough to cover our retirement needs. A recent study by Prudential found that more than half of those planning to retire this year will work beyond state pension age, with many pointing to a lack of money as the motivating factor. Around 1 in 12 said they simply could not afford to retire before they reach the age of 70.

However, the value tied up in our properties represents a potential answer for some with insufficient savings. According to Key Retirement, the property owned by the over-65s is worth a massive £1.054 trillion. So how can people tap into that money?

One answer is to downsize to a smaller property. These will usually be substantially cheaper, meaning that you can move into a property which is less difficult to manage and bank thousands of pounds to supplement your pension.

If you don’t want to leave your property, perhaps because of sentimental reasons or because it is close to family, then looking to remortgage may be an option. However, some lenders are less than eager to lend to people in their later years, so it may not be possible. Your chances of successfully remortgaging will depend on your individual circumstances.

An increasingly popular option is equity release, where you essentially unlock some of the equity you have built up in your property. Interest in equity release is at record levels and in the first half of 2017, retired homeowners cashed in £1.25 billion of housing wealth, according to Key Retirement. While these products are more expensive than remortgaging, they provide a useful alternative and should allow you to leave some form of inheritance for your loved ones after you pass away.

Interested to see how your property can supplement your retirement or be left to your loved ones after you’re gone? Speak to us today on 01243 216900 or email us at info@legalmatters.co.uk.